Seattle History: Early Years (1865-99)

December 31, 1975 10:00 PM

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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City namesake, 1860s: As the Denny party huddled through the winter of 1851-52 on Alki Point, a band of Duwamish led by Chief Seattle helped the settlers find food and shelter. In 1852, Chief Seattle (178?-1866) persuaded Doc Maynard to move his store from Nisqually to the new village of Duwumps. Maynard, in turn, got the settlers to name their new town after the chief. less

City namesake, 1860s: As the Denny party huddled through the winter of 1851-52 on Alki Point, a band of Duwamish led by Chief Seattle helped the settlers find food and shelter. In 1852, Chief Seattle ... more

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

City namesake, 1860s: As the Denny party huddled through the winter... Photo-784500.7421 - seattlepi.com

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David T. Denny (1832-1903), came to the Pacific Northwest not to farm or cut trees but to build a city. David was the first member of the Denny party to arrive in Seattle in September 1851.

David T. Denny (1832-1903), came to the Pacific Northwest not to farm or cut trees but to build a city. David was the first member of the Denny party to arrive in Seattle in September 1851.

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

David T. Denny (1832-1903), came to the Pacific Northwest not to... Photo-784503.7421 - seattlepi.com

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Seattle’s backside, 1890s: A shack sits on the mudflats along Seattle’s waterfront in the 1890s roughly in the area of Third and Fourth avenues south. The city’s downtown area was a large land-reclamation project, with hills reduced and vast mudflats filled in. Buildings have been raised to their new level awaiting fill from the hills to the east. less

Seattle’s backside, 1890s: A shack sits on the mudflats along Seattle’s waterfront in the 1890s roughly in the area of Third and Fourth avenues south. The city’s downtown area was a large land-reclamation ... more

Seattle’s first large school, mid-1880s: The Central School, which opened in 1883 at Seventh Avenue and Madison Street, was the first school in Seattle with more than two rooms. The wood frame structure burned in 1888, the victim of a faulty furnace. It was replaced by a brick building, a landmark that was damaged by the 1949 earthquake. less

Seattle’s first large school, mid-1880s: The Central School, which opened in 1883 at Seventh Avenue and Madison Street, was the first school in Seattle with more than two rooms. The wood frame structure ... more

Cordray’s Theater: A streetcar speeds past Cordray’s Theater at Third Avenue and Madison Street, circa 1892. The theater was the idea of John Cordray who is credited with bringing “polite vaudeville” to Seattle from 1890 to 1896. The theater was razed in 1907. less

Cordray’s Theater: A streetcar speeds past Cordray’s Theater at Third Avenue and Madison Street, circa 1892. The theater was the idea of John Cordray who is credited with bringing “polite vaudeville” to ... more

Seattle’s “Doc” Maynard: Dr. David S. Maynard (1808-1873), one of Seattle’s more colorful pioneers, arrived in the small settlement in March 1852, becoming the first person to file a land claim on the present town site. Maynard stubbornly insisted that the streets in his claim be laid out by the points of the compass, not aligned with the shoreline. It created a mismatch of streets at Yesler Way. less

Seattle’s “Doc” Maynard: Dr. David S. Maynard (1808-1873), one of Seattle’s more colorful pioneers, arrived in the small settlement in March 1852, becoming the first person to file a land claim on the ... more

A streetcar came for hire, 1884: Seattle’s first streetcar sits at the intersection of Pike Street and Second Avenue in 1884, the year the line opened for business. For a nickel, passengers could ride the horse-drawn Seattle Street Railway owned by Frank Osgood down Second Avenue. Downtown Seattle streets were notoriously muddy and treacherous to travel. less

A streetcar came for hire, 1884: Seattle’s first streetcar sits at the intersection of Pike Street and Second Avenue in 1884, the year the line opened for business. For a nickel, passengers could ride the ... more

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A streetcar came for hire, 1884: Seattle’s first streetcar sits... Photo-784506.7421 - seattlepi.com

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It was in the P-I: Crowds gather around the Post-Intelligencer building at Second Avenue and Cherry Street in 1898 to read news bulletins from the Spanish-American War. At the turn of the century, breaking news was often posted in the newspaper office’s windows. less

It was in the P-I: Crowds gather around the Post-Intelligencer building at Second Avenue and Cherry Street in 1898 to read news bulletins from the Spanish-American War. At the turn of the century, breaking news ... more

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

It was in the P-I: Crowds gather around the Post-Intelligencer... Photo-784510.7421 - seattlepi.com

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Seattle Hotel, 1897: Built in the aftermath of the Seattle Fire on a triangle at Second Avenue and Yesler, the Seattle Hotel was the city’s premier hotel. The building is shown here in 1897 on the eve of the Yukon gold rush. For years the hotel was the gala social center of the growing city. Its demolition in 1961 sparked a wave of preservation in Pioneer Square. less

Seattle Hotel, 1897: Built in the aftermath of the Seattle Fire on a triangle at Second Avenue and Yesler, the Seattle Hotel was the city’s premier hotel. The building is shown here in 1897 on the eve of the ... more

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle Hotel, 1897: Built in the aftermath of the Seattle Fire on... Photo-784513.7421 - seattlepi.com

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Off to the gold rush, circa 1898: Thousands crowd the Seattle waterfront to wish good luck to fortune seekers heading the Klondike Gold Rush, which broke out in 1897. Some of the city’s biggest fortunes were made by merchants who stayed behind to outfit dreamers. less

Off to the gold rush, circa 1898: Thousands crowd the Seattle waterfront to wish good luck to fortune seekers heading the Klondike Gold Rush, which broke out in 1897. Some of the city’s biggest fortunes were ... more

Gathering at the Occidental Hotel, 1881: Citizens collect in the square in front of the Occidental Hotel at the corner of Front Street, later renamed First Avenue, and Yesler Way in September 1881 to attend memorial services for assassinated President James Garfield. The section of the city seen behind the hotel was known as Profanity Hill. less

Gathering at the Occidental Hotel, 1881: Citizens collect in the square in front of the Occidental Hotel at the corner of Front Street, later renamed First Avenue, and Yesler Way in September 1881 to attend ... more

Seattle, 1860: This is believed to be the first photo taken of Seattle, at a time when 300 settlers lived here. Looking up the hill from First Avenue, James Street is on the right and Cherry is the next street to the left. Beyond Third Avenue is the thick forest that stood on the hill behind the city. Lumberman Henry Yesler’s home is in the foreground. less

Seattle, 1860: This is believed to be the first photo taken of Seattle, at a time when 300 settlers lived here. Looking up the hill from First Avenue, James Street is on the right and Cherry is the next street ... more

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle, 1860: This is believed to be the first photo taken of... Photo-784521.7421 - seattlepi.com

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Seattle as a village, 1878: Seattle was still a village in 1878 and contained about 3,500 people. In the foreground of this photo is the area between Second Street and Third Street, looking south from Pike Street on what was then the outskirts of town. In the distance, on the left, is the first University of Washington campus, between Seneca and Union streets. less

Seattle as a village, 1878: Seattle was still a village in 1878 and contained about 3,500 people. In the foreground of this photo is the area between Second Street and Third Street, looking south from Pike ... more

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle as a village, 1878: Seattle was still a village in 1878 and... Photo-784523.7421 - seattlepi.com

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Beginning of the Great Seattle Fire, June 6, 1889: A fire started when a glue pot spilled in a carpentry shop, and the blaze quickly spread on June 6, 1889, destroying 29 square blocks including the entire business district. With no adequate water system to put it out, the city was helpless as flames engulfed railroad terminals and nearly all of the city’s wharves. less

Beginning of the Great Seattle Fire, June 6, 1889: A fire started when a glue pot spilled in a carpentry shop, and the blaze quickly spread on June 6, 1889, destroying 29 square blocks including the entire ... more

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Beginning of the Great Seattle Fire, June 6, 1889: A fire started... Photo-784524.7421 - seattlepi.com

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Merchant’s row, 1877: A row of storefronts sits along Commercial Street (later renamed First Avenue South) between Washington and Main streets in 1877. The San Francisco Store was the forerunner of the Seattle department store MacDougall and Southwick. less

Merchant’s row, 1877: A row of storefronts sits along Commercial Street (later renamed First Avenue South) between Washington and Main streets in 1877. The San Francisco Store was the forerunner of the ... more

The view from Post Street, circa 1889: The heart of Seattle’s business district sat astride Yesler Way, seen here from Post Street, before the Great Seattle Fire. The Occidental Hotel is in the center of the photo. At far left is the Seattle Post-Intelligencer building. less

The view from Post Street, circa 1889: The heart of Seattle’s business district sat astride Yesler Way, seen here from Post Street, before the Great Seattle Fire. The Occidental Hotel is in the center of the ... more